Fire-escape



K. ATAM|AN.'

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APH.12|1919.

1,333,530; Patented Mari- 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- K. ATAMlAN'.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1919. 1 ,333,53(), Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- w {I I Witness as PATENT ornron. A

ICRIKOR ATAMIAN, OF

s'r. LOUIS, MISSGURI, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF scnmsonouen, or er, LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed April 12, 1919. Serial No. 289,561.

To all whom it may concern: 7 r

Be it known that I, KRIKon ATAMIAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements infFire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to fire escapes and has for its object the provision of a device of this character which is simple of construction and efiicient in operation and which may be placed adjacent a window or other opening and readily movedto a position for use. r I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape employing a rope or. cable, which is unwound from a drum by the person descending, the speed of such unwinding being automatically governed so as not to. be affected by the persons weight; thus a heavy person would descend at the same speed as a child. I

Another object is the provision of a device of the above character in which the .rope or cable .isautomatically rewound escape having an alarm device, which will be automatically operated by the operation of the escape, thereby directing attention of persons to the fire or giving notification of the unauthorized use of the device. a I Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the'drawingsz' Figure 1 is an elevation of a Window showing the position of the fire escape when not in use. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the win dow showing the fire escapein position for use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View through the device per 86.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4+4 of Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55,

' and Fig. 6 is a like view on the line 6*6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the device is shown as positioned adjacent a window casing,.indi- 12, an arm 18,the

cated at 10. To accomplish this there is provided a bracket 11, having pivotally secured thereto throu 'h the medium of a pin latter supporting at its outerend a fireescape about to be described.

' While the device is illustrated permanently mounted upon the arm 13, so as to be swung into and out of the window, it is, of

"course, obvious that it may be of a portable nature, with suitable means provided for de tachable engagement with a window opening or the cornice or roof of a building.

The fire escape comprises a casing of preferably cylindrical form, as shown at 14,

within. which is secured heads 15 and 16, both of these heads being provided with in wardly extending'annular flanges 17 which are secured to the casing 14. The head 16 is slightly spaced from the adjacent end of the cylindrical casing, this last mentioned endbeing provided with a closure 18, so that a separate compartment is provided for an alarm mechanism to be later described.

Mounted within the bearings formed in the heads 15 and 16, is ashaft' 19' and sesecured to this shaft is a hollow drum 20, carrying at opposite endsyfianges or heads 21 and 22, the latter being detaohably secured through the medium of screws or simi lar fastening devices 23. A wire cable or rope 24 has one end secured'to the drum 20,

and is adapted to be wound thereon between the flanges 21 and 22, the said cable or rope operating through an opening 25 in the casing 14: and having secured to its extremity a stirrup 26, which isadapted to receive the foot of the person using the fire escape.

When in use, the weight of the descending person will unwind the rope or cable, causing the drum 20 to revolve, and for the purpose of regulating the speedof this drum and consequently the speed of descent, there is provided an automatically operated brake. This brake comprises a pair of substantially .semi-circular'brake shoes 27, which are pivotally secured together upon a pin 28, the latter being carried by the flange 22 of the drum, causing the shoesto revolve with the drum. Operating between the opposite or free ends of the shoes 27, is a cam 01? spreader 29, the latter being pivotally mounted upon the flange 22 and having pivotally secured thereto one end of an arm 30. The opposite end ofthis arm is bifurcated 'IO LAURA M.

or slotted for the reception of a pin 31, which is eccentrically mounted upon a disk 32, rotatable upon the shaft 19.

.Pivotally'mounted in the flange or head 99 the said levers extending outward from the said flange or head and each having pivotally connected thereto one endof a rod The opposite ends of these rods are pivotally connected upon, diametrically opposite sides of the shaft 10,.to the disk 32, so that an inward movement of the short arms of the levers 34, will rotate the disk .32, and throughthe medium of the rod operate the cam or spreader 2-9 to spread the shoes;

27 into contacting engagement with the in nor periphery of the flange 17 of the head 15,

this flange being preferably providedwith a suitable friction lining 36. The shoes are normally held from engagement with the flange through the medium of a spring 37, while a. spring 38 secured to the long arms 7 of the levers 34: serves to normally retract the levers or to counter-act the centrifugal force due to theoperation of the drum.

Surrounding the shaft 19 between the head 16 and the adjacent head of thedrum 20, is

.a coiled spring 39, one end of this spring being secured to the flange of the head 16, as shown at' l-O and the opposite end being secared to the sh aft 19, as indicated at 41, the

head 16 and. its flan e forming a housing for the said spring, which, is closed by the'adjacent head ordrum 20. This serves to maintain the spring in proper alinement and will minimize the danger of breakage due to twisting or buckling ofthe spring. 'The a shaft 19 extends through the head 16 and has secured thereon a toothed Wheel 42, which is adapted toengage a roller 43, mounted upon one end of a pawl 4a. This pawl is pivotally secured to, the head 16 upon apin 4:5 and carries at its opposite end a spr ng arm 46. The free end of the arm 46 has secured thereon, a hammer or tappet 47, which is designed to operate between lugs d8 extending inwardly from a gong 4 9.

It'will be thus apparent that; when the shaft is revolved by either the unwinding or winding of the-rope or cable, the dog' ia will be. moved upon its pivot and the spring arm l6vibratechsoas to contact with the lugs 48 to sound the gong. The roller 43 is held in contact with theteeth of the wheel i2 through the action ofa spring 50.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will beseen that the weight of a person descending will unwind therope or cable, causing the drum 20 to revolve, its speed of operation beingvcontrolled through the action of the centrifugal levers34c, which operate the brake shoes27 and' cause themlto engage the inner periphery of the flange 1;? ofzthe head 15, ,the'deas indicated at 33 and extending within the drum 20, are levers 34:, the short arms of gree of such engagement being governed by fire escape be used by an unauthorized person, such as a burglar. r

The invention is susceptlble of various changes inits form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes'as properly; fall within the scope of the appended claims.

-Having described the invention, what is claimed is: Y

1. A fire escape embodying a casing, means for supporting the same, ashaft mounted to revolve within the casing, a hollow drum secured upon said shaft, a cable adapted to be wound upon the drum, a centrifugal gov- ,ernor operating within the hollow drum, a

brake shoe engageable with the casing. and

means including an eccentrically mounted" pin rotatable about the shaft andoperated by the governor to operate the brakeshoe and control the speed of the'drum.

2. A fire escape embodying a casing, means for supporting the same, a shaft mounted to revolve within the casing, a hollow drumsecured uponsaid shaft, a cable adapted to be Wound upon the drum, levers 'pivotally mounted within therdrum and disposed longitudinally of the shaft, aYdisk mounted-to revolve upon the shaft, rodsconnecting one end of the levers with the disk for imparting a rotary 'movementxto thelatter and a brake shoe. engageable with the casing and. connectedto the disk for controlling the speed of the drum.

3. A fire escape embodying a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted therein,-a hollow drum secured upon said shaft, aca-blewound upon the drum, pivotally mounted centrifugally operated levers disposed longitudinally of the shaft, a disk mounted to revolve upon c said shaft, means connecting the levers and disk, brakeshoes pivotally mounted upon the drum for contact with the casing, a cam V pivotally mountedupon the drum between the brake shoes and adapted to be operated to force the latter into contact with the cas ing and means connecting the cam and disk, whereby centrifugal action of the levers will rotate the disk and operate the cam.

4:. A fire escape embodying a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, a hollow drum secured upon saidshaft, acable wound upon the drum, pivotally mounted centrifugally operated levers disposed longitudinally of the shaft, a disk mounted to revolve upon said shaft, means connecting the levers and disk, brake shoes pivotally mounted upon the drum for contact with the casing, a cam pivotally mounted upon the drum between the brake shoes and adapted to be operated to force the latter into contact with the casing, an arm pivotally connected to the cam and an eccentric pin carried by the disk and 'engageable with the arm, whereby centrifugal action of the levers will rotate the disk and operate the cam.,

testimony whereof I afiix'my signature.

' KRIKOR'ATAMIAN. 

